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Healing Power of Art

2014 National Arts Project Avera McKennan Art Exhibit

People’s Choice Award

People’s Choice winner earns accolades with dragon sculpture

When the winds pick up the smell of wood smoke and the evenings turn toward autumn cool, you’ll find Luke Simmons in his garage studio mixing paper clay, creativity and recycled materials into yard displays for Halloween. His pumpkins, giant cauldron and over-sized witch all are known well around his west-side Sioux Falls home.

Old-hat at Halloween creations, Luke had never entered the Avera Employee and Family Art Show, so when his wife, Sue Simmons, mentioned it was approaching, Luke’s imaginative juices flowing a few months earlier than usual.

It paid off. Simmons was named first-prize winner in the adult amateur competition at the art show, and also garnered the "People’s Choice" award for his sculpture, "Sapphire" – a metallic blue, gold and silver dragon he crafted from a number of materials.

"It was my first dragon, and my first time in this competition, so I was surprised to win both honors," Simmons said. "When you do all the hours of work, you see all the flaws, but I suppose regular folks don’t see them like I do."

Simmons took pride in "Sapphire" and said he thought kids would like it. He also entered a fish sculpture, and said he takes a unique approach to creating his works. "I use a lot of recycled materials, like old coat hangers, newspaper, things like that," he said. "They last for a long time, and they’re not too expensive."

His wife, Sue Simmons, on staff at Avera Medical Group McGreevy clinic, said her husband’s work has been recognized in fall fairs at Newton Hills State Park, but that she was glad he entered the Avera competition. She said "Bubbles" the fish already has a home in their daughter, Madelyn’s room. The dragon’s new lair will be somewhere in the living room eventually.

The rich details of the creature’s scales, tail and claws require careful work and hours of patience, but the "enjoyable outcome" of getting feedback on something Luke considers a passion is a reward in itself, he said. "Awards are nice though, and it’s fun to get feedback from an audience," Simmons said. "The cash award will probably go to help pay for our daughter’s volleyball costs."

Simmons earned $300 for his win. He said if inspiration strikes he’ll again enter the Avera show. "One of the judges said I would have to enter the intermediate level, but I think she was joking," he said. Until then, his creations for fall will adorn the yard come October in time for the 31st.